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Speaking Notes for The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P. Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women on the occasion of a news conference on Culturally Driven Violence and So-Called "Honour Crimes"

Toronto, Ontario
Monday, July 12, 2010

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Representatives of stakeholder groups, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen…

Thank you for joining us here today.

To begin, as Minister for Status of Women, I would like to acknowledge the release of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy's report, Culturally Driven Violence Against Women by Aruna Papp. This report seeks to shed light on the emerging challenge of culturally driven violence. I will study the report, as this is an important issue that must be addressed.

In Canada, all girls and women are equal to men under the law, and have the right to live free from violence and abuse. The ability to make one's own choices in life is a cornerstone of our democracy.

As a Canadian, as a woman and as Canada's Minister for Status of Women, I roundly condemn all forms of violence against women. Such crimes are heinous abuses of power and human rights.

Here at home, I am proud to say that our Government takes the issue of gender-based violence very seriously.

As we have seen this past week with the disturbing issue of a woman being condemned to death by stoning in Iran, that is not the case in all countries. There are places around the world where violence against women is formally endorsed and employed. This is both abhorrent and unacceptable, and our Government has spoken out against what is happening in Iran in no uncertain terms.

Just as abhorrent is the kind of violence we are now seeing directed at some women and girls here at home ─ violence which may be viewed by some as culturally acceptable.

There is a small minority in some communities who use violence against women as a method of avenging their so-called "honour."

Let me be explicit:  This type of violence, the most extreme of which is often known as "honour killings," has no place in Canadian society.Killing or mutilating anyone, least of all a family member, is utterly unacceptable under all circumstances, and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

These heinous acts cannot be justified by cultural relativism or excused under the guise of political correctness. These acts are an extreme and brutal violation of the values we hold dear, and it is shameful that there are those who encourage or tolerate them. We must therefore ensure that policy makers and service providers address them for what they are:  violent ─ abhorrent ─ unacceptable ─ and illegal.

The preservation and promotion of human rights, deep respect for fundamental freedoms and a wholehearted commitment to the universal dignity of all persons stand at the heart of who we are as Canadians. The Government of Canada therefore condemns these deplorable acts unreservedly and absolutely.

In our new citizenship guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, which our Government introduced in November 2009, there is an important section that explicitly explains that Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, so-called honour killings, female genital mutilation or other gender-based violence.

As a nation, we are proud of the contributions made by our many diverse cultural communities. For over a century, Canada has been a land to which newcomers have gravitated in order to enjoy and embrace our rights and opportunities, and our country is the stronger for it. However, being a member of Canadian society comes with the responsibility of upholding Canadian laws and values.

Today, I am calling on women's groups and other community-based organizations to work with Status of Women Canada to develop on-the-ground projects that explore, expose and contribute to ending violence against women, including so-called honour crimes. Through the Women's Program, Status of Women Canada is proud to support projects that work toward safe homes, communities and environments for Canadian women, and we will continue to make this a priority.

I am proud of the determined actions of our Government, which have ensured that new and innovative projects funded through Status of Women Canada have had, and will continue to have, a direct impact on the lives of girls and women across the country. Status of Women Canada is proud to work collaboratively with women's groups and community organizations to protect and support victims of violence, and educate women on the resources available to them in Canada.

I will continue to work with my colleagues to explore further the measures our government can take to protect vulnerable women and girls. It is only by working together, armed with knowledge and understanding, that we will end all forms of violence against women, including those that are culturally driven.

Thank you.

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Date Modified:
2010-07-12